Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-25
ABOUT MARl.
fts Chemical Qualities and Value ~ Fer.
tilizing Agent.

this material by sight are ignorant Of
its value and uses. In reply to inquiries
regarding this subject, Prof. X. C..
Kenzie, in bulletin from the chemical
department of the Agricultural College
of Michigan, gives some valuable infor-
nation of general interest. which is
here presented in condensed form.
Mari is often found ut the bottom Of
mnck beds and shallow ponds, in layers
of varying thickness, of white or
yellowish white material. 1t consists
of carbonate of lime, carbonate of mag
nesia, sometimes small amount OF
phosphate of lime, some oxide OF iron
and avariable amount of clay and sand.
The value of mari depends almost
entirely upon the amount of lime and
magnesia it contains, and its value is
diminished in proportion to the amount
Of clay and sand present. 1t therefore
happens that some marls are almost
worthless as fertilizers. while others
are quite valuable. Now. lime and
magnesia are found in mari, mainly in
the form of carbonates. Therefore a
test for carbonate in such cases Is to
pour on the material some strong acid,
and if carbonate is present it will
foam up when vinegar is poured over
it; only the effervescence with mari is
slower, because the mari is less soluble
than soda. If the material does not
foam when an acid is added il is not
mari, but probably clay.
A good way to determine the quality
and value of mari is to determine how
much of the material is soluble in COM
mon muriatic acid This can be pro-
Cured in any drug store, and ought
not TO cost more than ten cents a
pound. One pound of the acid ought
to be enough 10 test three or four
specimens of mari. Mix the acid with
one quart Of rainwater and put this in
bottle for use. Take n tablespoons
ful of the material supposed TO be mari,
put this in n large glass or carthen
vessel (avoiding metallic dishes), and
slowly pour over the material q half
teacup of the dilute muriatic acid. II
it is a mari, the cffervcscence will show
this fact; if it all dissolves, leaving no
residue, or but little, at the bottom Of
the vessel. it is mari of good quality.
II but little is dissolved. and large
residue is left at the bottom of the dish,
it is of inferior quality.
A popular and simple test TO distin-
guiSh between mari and clay is made
by placing a lump of the material in a
basin of water and leaving it undis-
turbed for short time; if it is mari, it
will crumble down into difluse mass,
but if clay 1t will be little changed.
To the farmer mari is of value mainly
rs fertilizer When found on or near
the farm, it is the cheapest form in
which lime can be applied to the soil,
and cXerts all the beneficial influences
of lime, but in a milder degree than
cauStic lime. When mixed with the
soil, mari destroys the acid condition
in any soil, decomposes the sulphatc of
iron which is sometimes present, and
affords the alkaline condition in soils
SO necessary for nutrhcation and prep
aration of plant food.
Light, sandy soils, containing a fair
supply of vegetable matter, and when
the decomposition of humus is slow
soils that run to moss and bunch grass,
soils so open and porous that the phys
zeal state of the soil prevents fruitful
ness-all such soils are benefited by a
dressing Of mari. So also where the
excess of vegetable matter prevents
successful cropping Will a dressing of
fifty to scycnty-tivc bushels of mari to
the acre greatly benefit the crops and
amelioratc the soil.
To secure the benefits of mari il re-
guircs TO be on or near the surface. To
do the most good mari needs to be
Epo1t- t.. L..
the surface soil. TO secure this fineness
of division no agent is so good as frost.
II il is thrown on the surface of the
ground and left all winter to the split
ting wedge Of frost, 1T will be found in the
spring as mellow as an ash heap, and can
then easily and uniformly be spread
upon the field. Grass lands. whether
i'm pasture or meadow, can thus be ben
Gifted 10y a surface dressing of mari.
II two or three bushel, Of common salt
are spread on each acre with the mari
the benefit is usually greater. Indeed,
the combination of mari and salt is
usually found 10 be beneficial.
On grass lands the mari NAV be APP
piled at any season when we are sure
that frosts Will follow, so as 10 mellow
and break up the clods. If it becomes
dry and hard without freezing it may
remain in Jumps and be of very little
benefit. In grain crops the finely di-
vided mari eXerts most benefit if app
piled just before seeding.
Soils entirely destitute of vegetable
matter will probably derive little bene-
fit from mari. On heavy clay soils
mari will be less beneficial. unless used
in SO large an amount as to change the
physical properties of the soil. The
expense Of transporting so large an
amount of material As will be required
to alter the physical properties of the
soil, even when the distance is short, is
too great for the region of cheap lands
and high wages.
The inquiry has been made about the
value of powdered limestone for man.
ure. If the limestone is as finely pull
verified as mari it will be as valuable
for manure. In these days Of cheap
fuel the least expensive way to grind
the limestone 20 dust is to burn il into
caustic lime. and when this slakes in
in water. or better still. air-slakes. by